HARARE – Two suspected arson attacks in Harare early Tuesday have raised alarm over escalating intimidation against civil society and opposition groups opposing plans to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s rule beyond 2028.
The first attack occurred shortly after midnight at the Southern African Political Economy Series (SAPES) Trust premises in Belgravia, a well-known venue for public policy discussions.
According to reports, unidentified men firebombed the building, abducted the night guard, and locked the gate with new keys. The seminar room, which was set to host a press conference later in the morning, was completely gutted by fire.
SAPES Trust Executive Chairman, Ibbo Mandaza, confirmed the incident in a statement, saying the attackers “completely gutted” the seminar room.
He added that despite the destruction, the planned press conference would proceed as planned coinciding with Mnangagwa’s State of the Nation Address (SONA).
“The SAPES Trust Seminar Room, the usual venue for meetings, has been completely gutted by the arsonists who have since abducted the security guard who was on duty,” Mandaza stated.
“But the Press Conference scheduled for 11 am today will proceed as planned, on the ashes of the destruction and in full view of the world and parallel with their ‘SONA’!
“Yes, it will be well; there is a tomorrow in Zimbabwe.”
A few hours later, another fire was reported at the Highfield home of Gilbert Bgwende, a member of the Constitutional Defence Forum, a civic group opposed to Mnangagwa’s term extension.
Prominent journalist Hopewell Chin’ono said Bgwende’s house was burnt down around 1:30 a.m. by “unidentified thugs.”
“Both attacks, occurring in the early hours of the morning, point to a coordinated campaign of intimidation against voices resisting the 2030 agenda,” Chin’ono wrote on social media.
The attacks come hours before a national press conference scheduled for 11 a.m. at SAPES Trust under the theme “Constitutional Crossroads: Citizens Respond to Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Crisis.”
The event, convened by opposition and civil society leaders including Job Sikhala, Tendai Biti, Jacob Ngarivhume, Jameson Timba, and others, aims to denounce what they describe as Zanu-PF’s attempts to “unconstitutionally” extend President Mnangagwa’s term.
The controversy stems from a resolution passed at Zanu-PF’s annual conference in Mutare in mid-October, instructing the government and parliament to initiate legislative amendments to prolong Mnangagwa’s presidency by two years, citing “continuity and stability.”
Opposition and civic leaders have condemned the proposal as a “constitutional coup” that threatens Zimbabwe’s democratic order.
“All progressive forces are coming together to take a stand against the corrupt intent by Zanu-PF to change the constitution,” Ngarivhume said in a statement.
The ruling party is divided over the 2030 plan, with tensions reportedly growing between factions loyal to Mnangagwa and those aligned with Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who is widely seen as a leading contender for the presidency in 2028.
